The postings of a customs lawyer in Chicago on the state of customs law and international trade law. Important Disclaimer: None of this is legal advice, don't act on it. Don't ascribe these statements to my law firm, its partners or clients. Don't steal from my blog. I wrote it, I own it. But, feel free to link to me. Also, under the rules regulating speech by attorneys, this blog may be construed as lawyer advertising. I am the sole party responsible for the content.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Operation Flying Turtle

Yes, my fascination with animal smuggling continues. Here is a press release from the Department of Justice. In this case, a Japanese national pleaded (n.b. not "pled") guilty to turtle and tortoise smuggling when Customs and Border Protection found 55 live animals packaged as snack food in his luggage. Of course, they may well have been snack food. But, once you violate the Convention on International Traffic in Endangered Species, it does not matter what you planned to do with the creatures.

On the issue of the past tense of plead, Bryan Garner notes that both pled and plead have gained some credence as proper usage in American English (which is what I speak). But, Garner states that pleaded is the predominant form, and that is good enough for me. I know that because Garner quotes me as a usage example in A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, 667 (2d. ed):

"No case was to be pleaded at Superior Court for less than a three pounds fee . . . ." Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law 100-01 (2d ed. 1985).

OK, in reality, that not me; it is one of the other L. M. Friedmans out there. In this case, it is Stanford's Marion Rice Kirkwood Professor of Law Lawrence M. Friedman. Still, it is nice to see one's name in print when it is unexpected.

On the expected front, for those of you teaching in this areas, the book is coming along and should be available in the Spring semester. It is not clear whether a teaching guide will be available. More on that later.